Eriocrania sparrmannella

Description

Eriocrania sparrmannella or mottled purple is a moth of the Eriocraniidae family. It is found in Europe. The wingspan is 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in). The moth flies from April to May depending on the location. The head is pale grey, mixed with dark fuscous. The forewings are rather short and broad, pale shining golden and strongly and sharply strigulated with purple.There is a narrow erect dorsal spot of ground-colour before the tornus, reaching half across the wing ; cilia grey, sometimes obscurely barred with ochreous-whitish. Vein 9 is absent.The hindwings are rather dark grey, towards apex purplish tinged. The larva is whitish with a brown head , sides blackish and two marks on segment2 outlined with brown.The larvae mine the leaves of Betula species. The name honours Anders Erikson Sparrman.